]]>Philadelphia, Pa —“This is the performance I’ve been waiting my whole career to do”, says choreographer Michael Sakamoto. On December 12th and 13th, Sakamoto and Philly’s own dance icon, Rennie Harris, will take to Painted Bride’s main stage with their dance theater duet, Flash.

Conceived as a ‘conversation’ between the two dancers, the 45-minute piece features Harris and Sakamoto using their respective disciplines, Hip-hop and Butoh, to juxtapose cultural backgrounds (Japanese-American and African-American), personalities, and struggles for self-acceptance in the midst of crisis.

It’s a conversation that actually started years ago on campus at UCLA, where Michael Sakamoto was pursuing his PhD and Rennie Harris was teaching. Having studied both hip hop and Rennie Harris as a part of his graduate research, Sakamoto began the dialogue. The more their rapport grew, the more the artists realized the resonances not only between the two dance forms, but between their own lives.

Butoh rose out of an occupied, post-WW2 Tokyo in the late 50s as a way for dancers to grapple with their rapidly westernizing culture.

Both Hip-hop and Butoh were born from marginalized, urban subcultures, each embodying a philosophical approach to building cultural identity through dance. Specifically, Butoh rose out of an occupied, post-WW2 Tokyo in the late 50s as a way for dancers to grapple with their rapidly westernizing culture. Characterized by grotesque imagery, absurd environments, and hyper-controlled movement, butoh is a hybrid between dance and theater. “When you see old school butoh dancers,” says Sakamoto, “they are performing their self-perceived chaos.”

Before he was an innovator in contemporary butoh, Michael Sakamoto was a Asian American kid, growing up in LA, popping and locking to the sound of James Brown. His performance career launched in 1994 as a soloist in the Rachel Rosenthal Company. Later, Sakamoto co-founded and co-directed the avant-garde theater ensemble, Empire of Teeth, cited by LA Weekly as a “Best of LA” theater company. Additionally, Sakamoto is a published author and scholar who has lectured internationally on Butoh. Today, butoh serves as the philosophical foundation of all of his works.

Hip Hop, on the other hand, emerged from African-American and Latino communities in the late 60s as what Harris considers a contemporary indigenous form, one expressing universal themes that extend beyond race, class, and religion.

Hip Hop, on the other hand, emerged from African-American and Latino communities in the late 60s as what Harris considers a contemporary indigenous form, one expressing universal themes that extend beyond race, class, and religion. In 1992, Rennie Harris founded Rennie Harris Puremovement, a hip hop dance company dedicated to preserving and disseminating hip hop culture through workshops, classes, lectures, residencies, and public performances. The North Philadelphia native’s most famous works (e.g., Rome and Jewels, Facing Mekka) have garnered him international recognition and countless accolades, including three Bessie Awards, two Black Theater Alvin Ailey Awards, and a Herb Alpert award.

Attendees of Flash can expect to see all the popping, locking, and breaking Rennie Harris is famous for, plus all the visceral, shocking, serpentine moves that makes Michael Sakamoto an innovator in contemporary butoh. What’s more, Flash will be a multidisciplinary performance piece, complete with original monologues.

Finally, viewers can expect an element of spontaneity, based on the dancers’ shared prerogative. Sakamoto says, “[Rennie and I] work really well together because we both approach performance as structured improvisation.” Though the general structure of the show is static, their movements are completely impulsive, creating a true sense of a dialogue between them.

Finally, Flash is piece about resonance, reconciliation, transcendence amid chaos. Through the hip hop, butoh, and the shared experience of these two dancers, attendees will come to understand that crisis, as Michael Sakamoto puts it, “is an opportunity for change.”

This event is made possible by the National Performance Network, the Barnes Foundation, and Bangkok University Theatre Company.

]]>https://paintedbride.org/blog_flash/feed/0ORAN ETKIN AND YEMEN BLUES BRING ECLECTIC MUSIC WEEKEND TO the BRIDE AS PART OF ISRAELI JAZZPHESThttps://paintedbride.org/oran-etkin-yemen-blues-bring-eclectic-music-weekend-bride-part-israeli-jazzphest/
https://paintedbride.org/oran-etkin-yemen-blues-bring-eclectic-music-weekend-bride-part-israeli-jazzphest/#commentsThu, 13 Nov 2014 19:17:35 +0000https://paintedbride.org/?p=6482In partnership with the Consulate General of Israel in Philadelphia, we’re excited to announce two back-to-back concerts, Oran Etkin and Yemen Blues, presented as part …

]]>In partnership with the Consulate General of Israel in Philadelphia, we’re excited to announce two back-to-back concerts, Oran Etkin and Yemen Blues, presented as part of the 7th Annual Israeli JazzPhest.

Multi-instrumentalist Oran Etkin is internationally recognized for his innovative playing style and myriad musical influences. Melding age-old musical traditions from Africa, Israel, and New Orleans into one singular sound, Etkin has been called an “excellent improviser” by the New York Times and a “Woodwind Maestro” by Public Radio International.

Etkin’s chops have also landed him in the liner notes of acts like guitarist Mike Stern, pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and rapper Wyclef Jean. On November 15th, Etkin will play tracks from his latest LP, Gathering Light, released via Motema Music, on April 8th, 2014.

On Gathering Light, the Grammy award winner draws inspiration from his recent tours through Indonesia, China, Japan, and Israel. In fact, the album’s title derives from an ancient story Etkin learned while traveling in Jerusalem: A story in which the light of primordial man is scattered to the corners of the world at the beginning of time. According to the 500 year old story, it’s the responsibility of humankind to gather that light and heal the world.

According to DownBeat Magazine, “What really pushes [Gathering Light] close to 5-star status is the seemingly effortless chemistry among the five musicians.” The album features musicians Nasheet Waits, Ben Allison, Curtis Fowlkes, and Lionel Loueke. Lucky for attendees of Etkin’s Painted Bride performance, Etkin will be appearing with the same lineup that created that original magic.

Led by Yemenite-born Israeli vocalist/gimbri player Ravid Kahalani Yemen Blues is made up of top-flight musicians from New York, Uruguay, Finland, and Israel. Their diverse backgrounds and experiences culminate in an ensemble hailed “one of the most exciting bands in world music right now” by Chicago Time Out.

Painted Bride Curator, Lenny Seidman says, “Imagine a cross between James Brown and Prince, but with a gritty, desert vibe.”

Playing for the third time at Painted Bride Art Center, Yemen Blues promises a high-energy fusion of blues, jazz, funk, and traditional sounds from the Middle East and North Africa. Painted Bride Curator, Lenny Seidman says, “Imagine a cross between James Brown and Prince, but with a gritty, desert vibe.” The supergroup first played the Bride’s main stage in January 2011, then again in November 2012 as part of a successful North American tour. That same year, the band made Paste Magazine’s “10 International Acts To Watch For” and headlined GlobalFEST, the most renowned world music festival in the US.

Joining Yemen Blues for their November 16th performance is keyboardist and Philly native Brian Marsella, who has accompanied the band during their recent tour through India. Mr. Marsella is no stranger to the Bride either— attendees may recognize him as keyboardist for the Fresh Cut Orchestra, or more recently, as the bandleader of his own ensemble, the Imaginarium.

Founded in 2010, Yemen Blues strives to “speak a language you will understand no matter where you come from,” according to Kahalani. “It is my origin and my influences all together as well as a meeting with this group of amazing musicians.”

]]>We are delighted to welcome back award-winning choreographer Cynthia Oliver, performing BOOM!, an original dance duet co-starring Leslie Cuyjet this Friday and Saturday at 8pm.

Leslie Cuyjet and Cynthia Oliver

Building upon a non-linear sequence of narratives, BOOM! examines a woman’s relationship to herself, her history, her present and her future. The duet stars Cynthia Oliver and Brooklyn-based choreographer/performer Leslie Cuyjet, variously playing individuals, friends, strangers, family, younger/older versions of themselves, negotiating relations that are persistently in flux.

BOOM! began in 2012 as a seventeen-minute piece, curated by Ishmael Houston-Jones as part of his Platform 2012: Parallels series at the Danspace Project in New York, and then again in 2013 at New York Live Arts. New York Live Arts would later commissioner Oliver to extend the piece to evening-length and present it again at the 2014 New York Live Arts.

Like much of Oliver’s work, BOOM! in its entirely concerns itself with the slippages in everyday life—moment in which true selves are revealed and characters betray artifice. This work also continues Oliver’s investigation of black femininity, incorporating aesthetics of Caribbean, African, and American performance as well as drawing influence from her experience growing up in the Virgin Islands. BOOM! is a complex piece—looping, fractured examination of notions of destiny, and what happens when cause and effect do not necessarily align.

This performance will be Cynthia Oliver’s first at the Painted Bride since her 2009 premiere of Rigidigidim De Bamba De: Ruptured Calypso.

BOOM!, comes to Painted Bride’s main stage, November 7th and 8th at 8pm. Following Friday’s performance of BOOM!, attendees will be led in a reflection by choreographer and cultural historian, Brenda Dixon Gottschild. Tickets on sale—$25 in advance, $30 day of show. 30% off for Painted Bride Members. Click here to buy your tickets now!

Cynthia Oliver’s BOOM! is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation Fund Project co-commissioned by the Painted Bride Art Center. BOOM! and is made possible in part by support from the NPN Performance Residency Program. For more information: www.npnweb.org.

]]>https://paintedbride.org/choreographer-cynthia-oliver-returns-brand-new-dance-duet/feed/0JAZZ JUGGERNAUTS, THE COOKERS, RETURN TO THE BRIDEhttps://paintedbride.org/jazz-juggernauts-cookers-return-bride/
https://paintedbride.org/jazz-juggernauts-cookers-return-bride/#commentsMon, 27 Oct 2014 18:31:34 +0000https://paintedbride.org/?p=6462We’re pleased to welcome back jazz supergroup, the Cookers, who will play the main stage for the second time this Saturday, November 1st at 8pm. …

]]>We’re pleased to welcome back jazz supergroup, the Cookers, who will play the main stage for the second time this Saturday, November 1st at 8pm.

The Cookers

It’s been a busy autumn for the New-York based septet. Since the end of August, the Cookers have been travelling throughout the states and overseas in France, Norway, and Serbia, playing original tracks from their brand new album, Time and Time Again.

Released September 16th via Motema Music, Time and Time Again is the Cookers fourth full-length LP, a follow up to 2012’s critically-acclaimed Believe. This new collection finds the Cookers doing what they do best: avant post-bop fueled by the band’s collective history and expertise in the hard bop and jazz stylings that pervaded the 60s and 70s.

Joining the band for their second Painted Bride performance is alto saxophonist Jaleel Shaw, who will sit in for Donald Harrison. A Philly native, Shaw graduated from Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts before heading off to Berkeley School of Music. Since then, Shaw has played with the likes of Roy Hargrove, the Mingus Big Band, and recently, Tom Harrell’s Color of a Dream band. Shaw’s solo work has also garnered the attention of The New York Times and Downbeat Magazine, among others.

Aside from Jaleel Shaw, Cookers attendees can expect to see the same legendary lineup that sold out the Painted Bride in 2013. With over 200 years of jazz playing experience between them, the Cookers’ front line is David Weiss (trumpet), Eddie Henderson (trumpet), Billy Harper (tenor sax), and Jaleel Shaw (alto sax). The rhythm section is Cecil McBee (bass), George Cables (piano), and Billy Hart (drums).

The Cookers will play Painted Bride stage on Saturday, November 1st at 8pm. Tickets are going fast—$30 in advance, $25 day of show. 30% off for Painted Bride Members. Click here to buy your tickets now!

]]>A jazz saxophonist and an Afro-Latin drum collective—peculiar combo? Not for us. In fact, we live for these kinds of unlikely musical matchups. That said, the Mark Allen Quartet (with Strings) and Timbalona will play our main stage this Saturday, October 18th at 7pm. We caught up with Mark Allen and Andres Cisneros of Timbalona to talk about their upcoming show.

Mark Allen is something of an underdog. Sure, his baritone sax chops have landed him in the liner notes of Philly Pops, the orchestra pit at the Academy of Music, and at the head of classrooms at UARTs. He’s played the Painted Bride as a member of the Fresh Cut Orchestra. But never, until this fall, has the multi-instrumentalist taken the lead.

Not only will Mark Allen make his band-leading debut this Saturday, but he will also debut seven original pieces, all composed specifically for the event. To bring the compositions to life, he’s called on the help of Fresh Cut Orchestra’s rhythm section, as well as four unlikely guests: A string quartet.

“I want this performance to be an even fusion of two worlds.”

“I want this performance to be an even fusion of two worlds,” says Mark, hoping the strings will not only help expose a softer, tamer side of the baritone sax, but bridge the gap between jazz and classical music. He says, “I want this to use this show to shed some new light.”

Adding yet another world to the mix is Afro-Latin drum collective, Timbalona.

“Philadelphia is one of the best cities in the U.S. for percussion,” says Andrés Cisneros, Venezuelan-born percussionist and co-founder of Timbalona. Along with fellow drummer and co-founder Christian Noguera, Cisneros started the collective in a response to Philadelphia’s lack of young Latin drummers.

That was five years ago. Since then, the duo and their Timbalona crew have taken the city by storm, performing and teaching at local universities, schools, and venues large and small. They’ll add Painted Bride to their list this October, playing both original tunes and tributes to Latin big bands from the 80’s, including Cuba’s Irakere and Puerto Rico’s super band, Batacumbele.

“I’m always surprised by [Philadelphia’s] enthusiasm for percussion. People have high respect for it. That’s my motivation.”

For them, Timbalona not only represents a chance make their percussive presence known in the city, it’s a way to build community. According to Andrés, that’s the best part. “I’m always surprised by [Philadelphia’s] enthusiasm for percussion,” he says. “People have high respect for it. That’s my motivation.”

Timbalona and the Mark Allen Quartet and Strings will play Painted Bride stage on the same night—this Saturday, October 18th at 7pm. Tickets on sale now—$20 in advance, $25 day of show. 30% off for Painted Bride Members.

]]>https://paintedbride.org/double-feature-mark-allen-jazz-quartet-timbalona/feed/0Paul Santoleri Brings Live Painting and Explores the Apollonian/Dionysian Dichotomyhttps://paintedbride.org/paulsantoleri/
https://paintedbride.org/paulsantoleri/#commentsThu, 18 Sep 2014 17:35:30 +0000https://paintedbride.org/?p=6420It’s been nearly a decade since muralist Paul Santoleri’s last stay at the Bride. This fall, however, the famed visual artist returns to the with …

It’s been nearly a decade since muralist Paul Santoleri’s last stay at the Bride. This fall, however, the famed visual artist returns to the with Apollonian/Dionysian: The Constraints of Freedom, a curated exhibit exploring the inherent tensions between being an artist and an everyday citizen.

The Apollonian/Dionysian concept isn’t a new one—in fact, it makes its earliest appearance in Friedrich Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy from 1872. Borrowing names from mythological siblings, Apollo and Dionysus, this dichotomy is often used to examine opposing ideas in philosophy, literature and art (e.g., logic/emotion, restraint/excess, or science/art).

In The Constraints of Freedom, Santoleri uses the concept to juxtapose the workaday world (Apollonian) and the creative world (Dionysian), asking how artists can maintain a healthy creative practice while also engaging in the necessary, albeit tedious tasks of everyday life. According to Santoleri, however, you certainly don’t have to be an artist to relate. “It’s really a universal issue,” he says, “Everyone is always trying to strike that balance between order and chaos.”

Since his last full exhibit at the Bride (2005’s Linear Interference, a solo exhibit underscoring the disconnect between mankind and nature), the Philadelphia native has been something of a creative nomad—variously creating, studying, and teaching here in Philadelphia, across the country, and abroad.

Most recently, Santoleri returned from a year-long stint with the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation’s Space Program in Brooklyn, where he was one of seventeen visual artists in residence. It was an experience he felt ended too soon. “Once our time was up, we all dissipated,” he says, “But then [Painted Bride Art Center] came to me with this opportunity, and I thought it was a chance to bring us back together.”

Not only will this new exhibit feature work from other grantees of the Space Program, but Santoleri has also tapped artists from all over the city and country to contribute. Several of those artists will paint live on the Bride’s gallery wall, a collaborative project that will develop over the course of the exhibit.

Though the subject matter of this new exhibit may seem Apollonian, Paul Santoleri intentions for The Constraints of Freedom are decidedly Dionysian. “Really, I just want to celebrate—this is a way to enjoy the company of friends again and keep making art.

Paul Santoleri’s exhibit Apollonian/Dionysian: The Constraints of Freedom will open with a reception on First Friday, October 3rd. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 12pm – 6pm. Attendance is free.

Apollonian/Dionysian: the Constraints of Freedom will feature works from this growing list of artists:

]]>https://paintedbride.org/paulsantoleri/feed/0Painted Bride Available Internshipshttps://paintedbride.org/painted-bride-available-internships/
https://paintedbride.org/painted-bride-available-internships/#commentsMon, 08 Sep 2014 19:05:18 +0000https://paintedbride.org/?p=6393All internships are unpaid and available for college credit. No phone calls please. MARKETING INTERN The marketing intern will provide general support to the Marketing …

]]>All internships are unpaid and available for college credit. No phone calls please.

MARKETING INTERN

The marketing intern will provide general support to the Marketing department and report directly to the Communication Manager.

Responsibilities:

Maintain target media lists

Perform extensive research

Assist with writing press materials including press releases

Help monitor social media

Assist with graphic design projects and email blasts

Create content for the company website

Assist with various projects as assigned

Assist with distribution of marketing materials

Qualifications

A degree or equivalent experience in Communications, Marketing, English, or Public Relations

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs

Graphic design experience strongly desired

Tessitura experience strongly desired

Applicants must be available to work at least 16 hours a week, plus the occasional evening during show season.

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to mthompson@paintedbride.org.

Deadline: 9/25/14

DEVELOPMENT INTERN

Seeking a qualified college undergraduate or graduate student interested in fundraising and non-profit work to assist the Executive Director. Responsibilities include assisting with fundraising events, departmental mailings, filing, data entry, prospect and foundation research, and other duties as assigned. Applicants should have strong attention to detail, excellent written and oral communication skills, familiarity with databases, and knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel. Respect for confidentiality of information is a must. Internship is part-time. Schedule is flexible. Internship will begin October 2014 and continue through June 2015.

EVENT INTERN

Seeking an intern to represent the facility at public events such as concerts and First Friday receptions. Primary responsibilities would include managing an information table with season materials, answering questions about the Bride’s history and mission, and assisting with merchandise and concession sales as needed.

Applicants should be outgoing with an interest in furthering their understanding of non-profit arts institutions and how events and concerts are managed. Interns are also invited and encouraged to stay for performances.

]]>https://paintedbride.org/painted-bride-available-internships/feed/0Fiery Funk-and-Rollers, Rebellum, open Fall 2014 Season at the Bridehttps://paintedbride.org/rebellum-fiery-funk-roll/
https://paintedbride.org/rebellum-fiery-funk-roll/#commentsMon, 08 Sep 2014 18:49:53 +0000https://paintedbride.org/?p=6385Painted Bride show-goers might notice a few familiar faces when REBELLUM hits the stage on September 27th for our season opener. This ensemble is an …

Painted Bride show-goers might notice a few familiar faces when REBELLUM hits the stage on September 27th for our season opener. This ensemble is an alter-ego (or “splinter cell,” as they put it) of Burnt Sugar Arkestra, the jazz provocateurs who tore up our stage in 2012 to the tune of Miles Davis and James Brown.

Over the past several years, Burnt Sugar Arkestra has gained notoriety for similar tributes to David Bowie and Steely Dan, among others. But this year, the ensemble stepped forward with a brand new album, a brand new name, and a brand new bag.

The Rebellum project started as an exercise in “radical conformity,” says conductor, guitarist, and former Village Voice author, Greg Tate. The Harlem-based band challenged themselves to pack their sprawling sound into more traditional, radio-friendly tunes. What emerged was The Darknuss, a 20-track debut LP packed with what they’re calling “snarky protest songs, wry race music and roman­tic warrior anthems.” The name ‘Rebellum’ came after, a necessary rebrand for the band’s segue into original music.

Burnt Sugar fans needn’t worry—Rebellum is no less spontaneous or theatrical because of its creative constraints. In fact, Tate says the Rebellum show has produced a different kind of drama–a surprising new level of showmanship.

“There’s no dress code for this show,” says Tate, hinting that each member of the 10-piece ensemble will be letting their freak flag fly. “I can never predict what characters will emerge.” Having recently returned from a 10-city Rebellum tour, that’s saying something.

If nothing else, Rebellum attendees can expect a night of experimental funk, soul, and Afro-Futurist insurgency. Tate, who has variously played in and organized bands since the early 90s is particularly stoked about the trajectory of the project, saying, “I’m excited to be in a rock band again.”

BUY TICKETS today and join us for our season opener and the Bride premier of Rebellum. And if you are a Bride Member, there will be a special members-only dessert reception with the artists following the concert!

]]>https://paintedbride.org/rebellum-fiery-funk-roll/feed/0ARTISTS WANTED: Have a beer on us.https://paintedbride.org/artists-wanted-beer-us/
https://paintedbride.org/artists-wanted-beer-us/#commentsMon, 11 Aug 2014 23:09:44 +0000https://paintedbride.org/?p=6341Are you a young artist working in Philadelphia? We want to hear from you. And your friends. This week, the Bride is hosting its first-ever …

The series will feature Latino short plays, music, art, and food. In short, it is a celebration of the Latino culture, its various art forms, and an attempt to increase exposure of this culture and art forms to the various peoples of the greater Philadelphia area.

We are currently looking to identify playwrights who are either Latino, or who write plays that focus on the unique experiences of the Latinos.

These writers will be invited to submit short plays that will be read at Taller Puertorriqueño during the months leading up to March, with dates to be announced.

We will then select plays from those read that will be featured in our culminating event, to take place at the Painted Bride on Friday, March 6th, 2015, at 7:30pm. This evening will feature not only the short plays of Latino, or Latino centric writers, but also wonderful Latin food, music, and visual arts.

If interested in being involved in this exciting new program, playwrights should respond as follows:

1) A letter of interest, indicating why your writing would be a good fit for this program, and what the Latino Community means to you.

2) Your playwriting resume.

3) A 10 page sample of your Latino centric writing.

Please mail these items to: Todd Holtsberry, at todd.holtsberry@gmail.com , by September 15th, 2014, with the subject “Latino Lounge Submission”.

If you have any questions, please contact Todd Holtsberry, at the email above, or Jose Aviles at javiles@tallerpr.org .

The PDC (Philadelphia Dramatists Center) is a community of playwrights, collaborating artists and audience members dedicated to creating and nurturing new work. We develop resources, stimulate creative partnerships and participate in the ongoing national dialogue about how and why theater is created. We offer many different programs within the PDC as well as with collaborators within the Philadelphia area theater community. To learn more about the PDC, please visit www.pdc1.org.

Drawing from centuries of art and culture from Puerto Rico and Latin America, Taller Puertorriqueño, The Cultural Heart of Latino Philadelphia, is the premier Latino Cultural Center in the region. Founded in 1974 and located in the heart of the Latino Community, Taller crafts and presents programs that educate individuals and the community, promote and celebrate the richness and beauty of our culture, and creates an environment of opportunity with the arts as its engine. To learn more about Taller Puertorriqueño, please visit www.tallerpr.org.